London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following is a summary of the results of analysis of the 30 adulterated formal and informal samples, together with a record of the action taken by the council:—
| Article analysed. | Nature and amount of adulteration. | Action taken. |
|---|---|---|
| Caviare | 11.2 grains of boric acid per pound. | Vendor cautioned. |
| 9.9 „ „ „ | Informal sample. | |
| Fruit, tinned | 2.9 „ tin „ | „ „ |
| Milk | 30 per cent. extraneous water. | Proceedings. Fined £5 and 10s. 6d. costs. |
| „ | 4 „ „ „ | „ „ £1 „ „ |
| „ | No action. | |
| „ | Informal sample. | |
| „ | 2 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| „ | 1 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| „ | 0.9 „ „ „ | No action. |
| „ | 0.7 ,, ,, „ | |
| „ | 27 „ of required fat deficient. | Proceedings. Fined £5 and 10s. 6d. costs. |
| „ | Informal sample. | |
| „ | 17 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Fined £3 and £3 3s. costs. |
| „ | „ „ £2 2s. and 10s. 6d. costs. | |
| „ | „ „ £2 and 10s. 6d. costs. | |
| „ | 7 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| Oil, camphorated | 19.3 „ „ camphor deficient | Proceedings. No conviction recorded on defendant paying £5 5s. costs. |
| „ „ | 18 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ „ | 16 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| Rice | 4.2 grains of extraneous mineral matter per pound. | Vendor cautioned. |
| Sausages | 260 parts of sulphur dioxide per million (presence of preservative not disclosed). | „ „ |
| 260 „ „ „ | Informal sample. | |
| 247 „ „ „ | „ „ | |
| 137 „ „ „ | Vendor cautioned. | |
| 123 „ „ „ | Informal sample. | |
| Vinegar | 92 per cent, of required acetic acid deficient. | Proceedings. Fined £2 and 14s. costs. |
| 91 „ „ „ | Informal sample. | |
| 22 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Fined £2 2s. and 14s. costs. | |
| 14 „ „ „ | Proceedings. No conviction recorded on defendant paying 10s. 6d. costs. |
The total number of prosecutions under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act was 10, the
fines and costs amou ting to £45 3s. 6d.
The Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations, 1923-1927, and the Public Health (Dried
Milk) Regulations, 1923-1927.—During the year, three samples of condensed milk and two of
dried milk were taken and each was found to comply with the regulations in every respect.
Food Poisoning.—Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, which
requires every medical practitioner in London to notify the medical officer of health of any person
whom he suspects or finds to be suffering from food poisoning, came into operation during the year.
Shortly afterwards a circular letter was sent to all doctors practising in Kensington, calling attention
to their new responsibilities. In the remaining part of the year 453 cases were notified in London.
The number notified in Kensington was 26 ; there were 17 in the Golborne ward, four in the Norland
ward and five in the St. Charles ward. It will be observed that all the Kensington cases occurred
in the three northern wards where the majority of the poor live. It is significant that not a single
case was reported from South Kensington.